4) Find and double-click the file. It will open automatically in Google Earth.

5) At this point, you’re essentially done and can begin zooming in and out on topo maps for the entire country. You need to take one more step, however, to ensure that this file remains available for future use. When you first open the file, you will see a “NGS_Topo_US_2D” icon under the “Temporary Places” folder in the left-hand “Places” column. To make this a permanent addition, move the icon to the “My Places” folder; just drag it over and drop it into “My Places.”

One great feature of this layer is that you can change its opacity. That is, you can fade it in and out so that you either see just the topo map, just the satellite image, or both simultaneously. To do so, simply slide the bar in the opacity adjustment (circled in red in the bottom picture below).

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Equipped blogger Matt Heid is AMC's gear guru: He loves gear and he loves using it in the field. While researching several guidebooks, including AMC's Best Backpacking in New England, he has hiked thousands of miles across New England, California, and Alaska, among other wilderness destinations. He also cycles, climbs, and surfs.